Pull-Offs

Pull-offs are most often used in conjunction with Hammer-Ons. First we will deal with the Pull-off and secondly with the combination of the two.

To accomplish a Pull Off place your index and ring fingers as shown in Tablature Diagram A. Now without using your pick or picking hand at all pull your ring finger down slightly then away from the string. In other words you pull your ring finger off the string in this manner to cause the string to ring which in turn causes the note your index finger is fretting to sound. Tablature Diagram B is the combination of the two. So you place your index finger on the first note then Hammer-on the second note with your ring finger. Then instead of holding that note, as soon as you Hanmer-on with your ring finger you immediately pull that finger off of the string.

When you get this down pat no pick is required since the Pull-off itself actually plucks the string for you. However, in the beginning we suggest you start slowly and gradually increase your speed as well as using your pick to strike the first note your index finger is fretting. With practice you won't need to pick.  Tablature Diagram C is a variation on the combination using an open string in conjunction with a Hanmer-On and Pull-off. Try the above examples.